RESUMO O objetivo com este estudo foi avaliar o efeito da substituição do farelo de soja pela torta de mamona destoxificada sobre a espermatogênese em ovinos. Foram utilizados 24 ovinos, com peso médio de 29±0,8kg e 9 meses de idade, distribuídos aleatoriamente em três tratamentos: T1= 0%, T2= 50% e T3= 100% de substituição do farelo de soja pela torta de mamona destoxificada. Os animais foram alimentados com pastagem de capim Aruana (Panicum maximum cv. Aruana) e ração durante 90 dias. Por ocasião do abate, coletou-se os testículos para mensurações e avaliação da espermatogênese. Os dados foram avaliados quanto à normalidade por meio do teste de Shapiro-Wilk e utilizou-se a Análise de Variância com 5% de significância. Não houve efeito da substituição do farelo de soja pela torta de mamona destoxificada nos níveis testados (P>0,05) para nenhuma das variáveis avaliadas. O rendimento médio da espermatogênese foi de 72,91 espermátides arredondadas produzidas a partir de uma espermatogônia; a média do número total de células germinativas sustentadas por uma de célula de Sertoli foi 12,09; a média da reserva espermática testicular total foi de 31,82x109 e de 238,28x106 por grama de testículo; a média da produção espermática diária foi de 3,03x109 e de 22,69x106 por grama de testículo e o número total de células de Sertoli foi de 4,15x109 e de 34,51x106 por grama de testículo. Os resultados demonstram que é possível substituir 100% do farelo de soja pela torta de mamona destoxificada na dieta de ovinos sem prejuízos no processo de espermatogênese.

ABSTRACT The objective was to evaluate the effect of replacing soybean meal with the detoxified castor bean cake on testicular morphometry and spermatogenesis of sheep. Were used 24 uncastrated, 9-month old sheep weighing 29±0.8 kg they were randomly distributed among three treatments: T1 = 0%, T2 = 50%, and T3 = 100% substitution of soybean meal with detoxified castor bean cake. The animals were fed with Aruana grass pastage (Panicum maximum ‘Aruana’) and a ration for 90 days. After slaughtering, the testicles were collected and histological slides were prepared with tissue fragments. The data were evaluated for normality using the Shapiro-Wilk test, and analysis of variance was carried out at 5% level of significance. Substitution of soybean meal with detoxified castor bean cake had no effect on any of the assessed variables at the tested levels (P >0.05). The mean yield of spermatogenesis was 72.91 rounded spermatids per spermatogonium; the mean of total number of germ cells held by a Sertoli cell was 12.09; the mean of the testicular spermatic reserve was 31.82×109 and that per testicular gram was 238.28×106; the mean of daily spermatic production was 3.03×109 and that per testicular gram was 22.69×106; and the total number of Sertoli cells was 4.15×109 and that per testicular gram was 34.51×106. The results show that it is possible to replace 100% of the soybean meal with detoxified castor bean cake in sheep diet without any effects on spermatogenesis; however, it is important to perform seminal evaluations in future studies.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to assess the effects of palm kernel cake on semen quality and biochemical parameters of Santa Inês lambs. A total of 40 animals with 24.10±2.72 kg body weight and five months old were assigned in a completely randomized design into four groups and 10 replicates. The animals were subjected to four levels of palm kernel cake (0, 15, 30, and 45%) based on dry matter. The trial lasted 90 days foregone by 15 days for adaptation. Blood samples were collected every 45 days from jugular vein using vacuum tubes without anticoagulant. Total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and very-low-density lipoprotein were assessed. Once the animals reached puberty at a mean age of 225 days, the semen samples were collected by electroejaculator once a week for three sequence weeks and assessed for volume, color, aspect, wave motion, motility, sperm concentration, sperm vigor, total of spermatozoa per ejaculate, viable spermatozoa per mL, and sperm morphology. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and followed by regression analysis. Non-parametric data were analysed by Kruskal-Wallis test. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and very-low-density lipoprotein were linearly increased. There was no difference for low-density lipoprotein. Diets did not affect mass motility, sperm motility, vigor, total spermatozoa per ejaculate, viability sperm per mL, and minor and total sperm defects. Sperm concentration increased linearly. Negative quadratic effects were observed for major sperm defects. Supplementation of diets with palm kernel cake up to 45% on dry matter enhance biochemical parameters and do not impair the qualitative variables of lamb sperm.

Empty body and carcass chemical composition were determined in 67 Nellore bulls from Selection Nellore (NeS) and Control Nellore (NeC) herds of an animal breeding program for growth, slaughtered at 570 days of average age, after 100 days of feedlot. Selection Nellore animals had, respectively, 360 and 430 kg of initial and slaughter body weight, and NeC animals had 318 and 373 kg for the same traits. Animals were slaughtered and empty body composition was determined by chemical analysis of the components blood, hide, head and feet, viscera and carcass. Tissue deposition rates and gain chemical composition were also determined based on gains estimated by comparative slaughter technique. Significant differences were detected between NeS and NeC animals for slaughter body weight, empty body weight, empty body gain rate, and contents of water, protein, ash and retained energy in empty body, showing that selected animals had greater body sizes and growth rates. There were no significant differences in fat contents in empty body and carcass, suggesting that selected animals had higher growth rates as compared with the control, and were slaughtered with good body and carcass fat contents in the same feedlot time. Control Nellore animals showed a 10% higher gain in fat percentage than NeS in the period. This shows that the growth of bone and muscle ceased earlier and NeC group accumulated more fat. Animals selected for growth have heavier carcasses and greater tissue deposition rates with proportional composition similar to unselected animals.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of multiple supplement supply on the nutritional characteristics and productive performance of pregnant cows grazing on Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. during the dry season. The experimental area was composed of four 3.0 ha paddocks with availability of potentially digestible dry matter of 2,582 kg/ha. Twenty-eight crossbred pregnant cows with predominance of Zebu breed at body weight of 446±12 kg were utilized in a completely randomized experimental design. Treatments consisted of mineral supplement (control treatment) and supply of multiple supplement at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 kg/animal/day with 300 g crude protein (CP)/kg of dry matter (DM). There was quadratic effect of multiple supplementation levels on daily weight gain and a linear increase for final body condition score. The intakes of DM, organic matter (OM) and total digestible nutrients presented no effect with levels of multiple supplement. The coefficients of apparent digestibility of DM and OM had cubic effect with multiple supplementation levels. There was no effect of levels of multiple supplementation on the microbial nitrogen flow and efficiency, but the microbial nitrogen flow in relation to nitrogen intake showed decreasing linear profile. The supply of 1.0 kg of multiple supplement optimizes the performance of grazing cows during the dry season.

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o efeito de diferentes teores de fibra em detergente neutro oriunda da forragem com maturidade avançada sobre o consumo, a digestibilidade da matéria seca e de nutrientes, o balanço de nitrogênio, a produção de leite, a eficiência de utilização da energia metabolizável e o comportamento ingestivo de cabras em lactação. Foram distribuídas cinco cabras em delineamento em quadrado latino 5 × 5 utilizando-se teores crescentes de fibra em detergente neutro oriunda da forragem como variável independente. As concentrações de fibra em detergente neutro oriunda da foragem utilizadas foram 20, 28, 35, 43 e 49%. Os consumos de matéria seca, de nutrientes e de energia líquida reduziram com o aumento de fibra na ração. No entanto, o consumo de fibra em detergente foi crescente, indicando capacidade de acomodação desse componente nutritivo pelos animais. O teor de fibra influenciou os coeficientes de digestibilidade da matéria seca, matéria orgânica, proteína bruta e dos carboidratos não-fibrosos, contudo, a digestibilidade da fibra em detergente neutro não foi influenciada pelas dietas. O nível de fibra em detergente neutro oriunda da forragem não influenciou os constituintes do leite (gordura, proteína e lactose). O teor de fibra oriunda da forragem teve efeito quadrático sobre a produção de leite (corrigida e não corrigida para 4% de gordura), em kg/dia, com maiores produções obtidas com o teor de 28% de fibra. A eficiência de utilização da energia metabolizável não foi influenciada pelas variações nas dietas. O teor de fibra em detergente neutro oriunda da forragem influencia o comportamento ingestivo de cabras em lactação, aumentando os tempos de ruminação e mastigação e diminuindo o tempo em ócio dos animais.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the different contents of neutral detergent fiber from forage at advanced maturity on intake, digestibility of the dry matter and of nutrients, nitrogen balance, milk production, efficiency metabolizable energy use and the ingestive behavior of lactating goats. Five dairy goats were distributed in 5 × 5 Latin square by using increasing contents of neutral detergent fiber from forage as independent variable. Concentrations of neutral detergent fiber from forage used were 20, 28, 35, 43 and 49%. The intakes of dry matter, of nutrients and of net energy were reduced with the increase of fiber to the ration. However the intake of neutral detergent fiber was increasing, indicating the capacity of accommodation of this nutrient by the animals. Fiber content influenced digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and non-fibrous carbohydrates but digestibility of neutral detergent fiber was not influenced by the diets. Level of neutral detergent fiber from forage did not influence milk constituents (fat, protein and lactose). Content of fiber from the forage had a quadratic effect on milk production (corrected and not corrected for 4% of fat) in kg.day-1, with greater productions obtained with the content of 28% of fiber. Efficiency of use of the metabolizable energy was not influenced by the variations of the diets. Content of neutral detergent fiber from forage influences ingestive behavior of goats in lactation, increasing the time of rumination and chewing and reducing iddle time of the animals.

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o efeito dos níveis de fibra em detergente neutro oriunda da forragem (FDNf) em dietas para cabras em lactação. Foram distribuídas cinco cabras em um delineamento quadrado latino 5 × 5, utilizando-se cinco níveis de FDNf (19, 27, 35, 42 e 48%) como variável independente. Os consumos de matéria seca (MS), matéria orgânica (MO), proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE), carboidratos não fibrosos (CNF), nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) e energia líquida (EL3x) reduziram linearmente com o aumento dos níveis de FDNF. O consumo de FDN não foi influenciado pelo aumento no nível de FDN e manteve-se próximo a 1,2% do PV. As variações nas concentrações de fibra das dietas não influenciaram os coeficientes de digestibilidade da MS, MO, FDN, PB e CNF. De forma semelhante, as concentrações dos constituintes do leite (gordura, proteína e lactose) não se alteraram entre os níveis de fibra das dietas. O nível de FDNf da dieta teve efeito linear decrescente sobre a produção de leite corrigida e não-corrigida para gordura. A melhor eficiência líquida de utilização da energia metabolizável consumida para produção de leite é atingida com dietas contendo 35% de FDNf.

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of neutral detergent fiber levels from forage (NDFf) in diets for lactating goats. Five goats were distributed in a 5 × 5 Latin square design, using five NDFf levels (19, 27, 35, 42 and 48%) as independent variable. Intakes of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), nonfibrous carbohydrates (NFC), total digestible nutrients (TDN) and net energy (NE) linearly decreased as NDFf levels increased. NDF intake was not influenced by increase in NDF level and it was maintained close to 1.2% of BW. The variations in the concentrations of fiber in the diets did not affect the digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, NDF, CP and NFC. Similarly, the concentrations of milk constituents (fat, protein and lactose) were not altered with the fiber levels of the diets. Level of NDFf had a decreasing linear effect on correct and not corrected milk production for fat. The best net efficiency of use of the metabolizable energy consumed for production of milk is reached with diets containing 35% of NDFf.